Instead of perpetuating the idea that models must be abnormally tall and skinny to represent major designers, more and more brands are buying into the idea of marketing directly to the consumer — by recruiting models of ALL shapes and sizes!

And during this year’s New York Fashion Week, history was made when Dr. Danielle Sheypuk, a model who’s been wheelchair-bound since age five due to muscular atrophy, modeled for the Carrie Hammer runway.

Danielle is the FIRST-EVER model in a wheelchair to grace a catwalk at NYFW! Wow!!

The career clinical psychologist and 2012’s Ms. Wheelchair New York talked about the significance of her appearance, saying:

“I feel like the industry has gotten more accepting of diversity but you never hear of a model in a wheelchair and it’s just ludicrous. I would like the whole spectrum of fashion designers to tune in, all the way up to high fashion like Tory Burch, Gucci and Louis Vuitton because, why not? Many of us have successful careers and we have money and we want to spend it and we want to look good.”

Preach!!

And the runway diversity didn't stop at Danielle — in fact, Hammer's ENTIRE runway was made up of "role models" instead of "fashion models"! Dr. Danielle was surrounded by CEOs, entrepreneurs, and a former Miss USA when she made her runway debut.